Becoming an Urban Hippie

I’ve been blogging about natural foods for 5 years and I’ve rarely used the term “hippie.” I guess I just didn’t think I was one. Aren’t hippies people who smoke weird stuff, make their own clothes, and live in campers?

As I was going through my morning routine last week, I eventually sat down at my desk to work and it dawned on me: I’ve turned into a total urban hippie!

It was sort of a cool revelation. Realizing just how deep my “natural roots” have grown over the past few years is amazing. What started out as an obsession with kale has turned into a full-blown diversion from the traditional food/health system. My beliefs about nutrition, healthcare, personal care, mind/body wellness, and physical fitness have played a big role in shaping my personality and who I am.

And because I think it’s such a cool thing, I just wanted to share it with you!

So often I forget that Daily Bites is my personal place to share neat stuff that’s going on in my life and heart. Today I wanted to give you an inside look at what makes me urban hippie—even though I don’t smoke weird stuff, make my own clothes, or live in a camper.

This is a typical day’s routine:

I wake up, then thank God for the restful night and the day ahead.

Often I’ll workout next. Yoga, stretching, walking, jump roping—anything to move the blood for a while.

Then it’s off to the shower…although on days that I don’t workout, sometimes I’ll skip it. But first: skin brushing! At the end of my shower, I flip the handle to cold water. This invigorates my cells and makes my metabolism wake up even more.

Next, breakfast! Usually it’s a green smoothie or juice. I load mine with anti-inflammatory spices like ginger, cinnamon, turmeric, and sometimes even garlic.

After my green fix, I go for some chaga tea. Chaga is a medicinal mushroom that is a powerful antioxidant (even more potent than wild blueberries or pomegranates). I steep it for anywhere from 10 minutes to several hours, but if I don’t have any on hand, I’ll sip homemade bone broth instead.

I work at my standing desk (which I fashioned from an old crate…no fancy treadmills here!) for most of the morning.

After a nourishing lunch of mostly organic foods (sourced locally when possible), I’ll lay on my Spoonk mat for 15-20 minutes. Spoonk is an acupressure mat that has myriad benefits, not the least of which being stress reduction. I find that the middle of the day is the perfect time to do it.

I’ll head back to work after my Spoonk session, often sipping more herbal tea in the afternoon and snacking on yummy creations I test out in my kitchen.

Most days, I try to squeeze a walk into my afternoon. Some of the greatest thinkers of all time carved out an hour or two in their day for walking. I think it’s one of the most nourishing, creativity sparking, stress reducing activities EVER!

I make time for a sit down dinner most nights. What I eat varies, but it’s always enjoyed at a table bite by bite. I rarely eat in the car. I don’t have a microwave (more on why coming soon in a new post), and I don’t use plastic cookware or dishes. I cook with stainless steel or cast iron, eat off of real plates using real silverware, and have a vibrant collection of cloth napkins.

I’ll close out many days with a detox bath. I add epsom salts, baking soda, and lavender essential oil to the water. Soaking for even just 15 minutes reduces my stress, calms my mind, and helps to “end cap” the day. This isn’t a daily practice, but I enjoy it several times per week.

My favorite way to finish my day is with some reading and journaling. Whether it’s a good novel, interesting self help book, my Bible, or something else, a bit of reading before bed engages my mind without overstimulating my senses.

And then, sleep! I am in bed by 9 pm almost every night. I’m serious. Most people laugh at me when I tell them this, but I’m not lying! In all honesty, it’s rare that I stay up past 10 pm. (And on the off chance that I do, it’s probably because I’m either traveling or reading something really amazing that I can’t put down.)

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Outside of my daily routine, here are a few more things that make me the urban hippie that I so love being:

I’ve come to prefer shopping at my local health food co-op rather than bigger natural food stores. I love supporting the smaller local producers and seeing the change of seasons reflected in the produce department.

I make my own lacto-fermented vegetables and love caring for them throughout the fermentation process.

I use essential oils on a daily basis for a wide variety of both medicinal and beautifying purposes.

I truly dislike going to the drug store, the doctor, or the dentist and keep them to the bare minimum in my life.

I love reading about outdoor survival skills. This is a new one. I know pretty much nothing about living in the wild, but I’m learning more each day and loving it!

And for all the ladies, have you heard about Luna Pads? I’m seriously interested and will probably be placing my first order soon. If this is not hippie, I don’t know what is. :)

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As soon as I recognized my natural roots for what they are and realized that I’m transforming into this hippie person, I really did start feeling more “me” than I’ve felt in a while. I love everything about natural, close-to-the-earth living and am so privileged to have this space to share my passion for it with you all!

Tell me, what are your “hippie habits?” Leave a comment and let’s chat!

The Luna Pads company is great. But, if you don’t have aversion to the internal option, check out a menstrual cup. They are seriously amazing. They have a bit of a learning curve, but once you grasp it, it seriously changes your life. My period went from being dreadful to a minor annoyance. And I haven’t spent a cent on it for years. TMI? Too bad :P

I’m not alone!! I always wondered where I fit in? Not hippie enough for the hippies and not cowgirl enough for the cowgirls. An Urban Hippie, that sounds right. Thank you Hallie for coming up with this. It makes me feel like I belong somewhere….;>)

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